Ethiopian A359 at Johannesburg on Nov 6th 2021, hard landing, wing tip strike
Last Update: December 3, 2021 / 19:13:21 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Nov 6, 2021
Classification
Accident
Airline
Ethiopian Airlines
Flight number
ET-809
Departure
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Destination
Johannesburg, South Africa
Aircraft Registration
ET-AYB
Aircraft Type
Airbus A350-900
ICAO Type Designator
A359
Airport ICAO Code
FAOR
The aircraft is still on the ground in Johannesburg 12 days later.
A local source told The Aviation Herald the aircraft suffered a hard landing and a runway excursion and went around.
According to ADS-B data transmitted by the aircraft the aircraft was descending at 500+ fpm at the time of touchdown, touched down about 120 meters/400 feet past the runway threshold (past the runway numbers but before the first touch down zone marker), changed 12 degrees to the right and climbed through 400 feet AGL about 460 meters/1500 feet to the right of the runway centerline overflying the hangars east of the runway.
On Nov 10th 2021 South Africa's CAA reported they were notified of an incident involving an Ethiopian A350-900 on Nov 6th 2021 and dispatched investigators on site to determine scope and size of the investigation. A preliminary report will be published within 30 days.
On Nov 18th 2021 The Aviation Herald received photos of the damage and current repairs (see below) verifying that the aircraft also received damage to its right wing tip as result of a wing tip strike.
Later on Nov 18th 2021 South Africa's CAA added that the aircraft encountered a strong crosswind while landing on runway 03R, the right hand wing tip made contact with the runway surface. The occurrence was rated an accident and is being investigated.
Ethiopian Airlines so far did not respond to an inquiry by The Aviation Herald sent on Nov 9th 2021.
On Dec 3rd 2021 South Africa's CAA (SACAA) released their preliminary report rating the occurrence an accident, the aircraft received substantial damage. The SACAA also reported that the CVR had not been deactivated following the accident and was overwritten.
The SACAA summarized the testimony of the captain:
The captain/pilot flying (PF) stated that upon his first contact with Johannesburg air traffic control (ATC), he was cleared for an OKPIT 4A standard instrument landing system (ILS) approach for Runway 03R. The weather from the Automatic Terminal Information Services (ATIS) that was broadcasted to the crew was — wind at a direction of 300° at 22 knots (kts), ceiling and visibility OK (CAVOK), temperature at 27°C, dew point at 11°C and query nautical height (QNH) at 1021 hectopascal (hPa). The PF stated that he had prepared for the arrival and had briefed the approach as per the company briefing checklist; he had anticipated a wind shear upon landing, therefore, added 5kts on the approach velocity (Vapp) of 137kts as per the operation manual for strong crosswind landings. The flaps were configured at 3°. The crew established for an ILS 03R approach and stabilised before 1000 feet (ft) above ground level (AGL). On final approach, ATC reported that the wind was from a direction of 300° at 22kts. At 30ft AGL, the PF flared with the adjusted crosswind landing technique by adding 5kts and retarded the thrust.
The PF attempted to touch down within the touchdown zone, but the aircraft could not touch down inside the touchdown zone. The PF concluded that they were in wind shear and decided to execute a go-around. During the initial stages of the go-around, the gusty wind over-banked the aircraft to the right. The ATC instructed the PF to maintain runway heading and to climb to 8000ft above mean sea level (AMSL) and vectored them for Runway 03L landing. The crew related to ATC that they had encountered wind shear on final approach. The PF was able to land safely on Runway 03L and, at 1126Z, the chocks were placed against the aircraft’s wheels at the parking bay. Thereafter, the crew disembarked and, during transit check, they noticed the damage on the right-side wing tip.
The aircraft left a scrape mark of about 110 meters length starting about 80 meters past the touch down zone on the runway. The captain (38, ATPL, 10,641 hours total, 1,738 hours on type) was pilot flying and was assisted by a first officer (29, CPL, 2,322 hours total, 983 hours on type) as pilot monitoring.
Metars:
FAOR 061300Z 32016G26KT 280V340 9999 SCT049 29/10 Q1019 NOSIG=
FAOR 061230Z 31015KT 9999 FEW045 29/10 Q1019 NOSIG=
FAOR 061200Z 32015KT 290V350 9999 FEW045 29/11 Q1020 NOSIG=
FAOR 061130Z 31017KT 280V340 9999 FEW045 29/10 Q1021 NOSIG=
FAOR 061100Z 32016KT 280V340 9999 FEW045 28/11 Q1021 NOSIG=
FAOR 061030Z 33016KT 300V360 CAVOK 28/10 Q1021 NOSIG=
FAOR 061000Z 34017KT CAVOK 27/11 Q1021 NOSIG=
FAOR 060930Z 32018KT CAVOK 27/11 Q1022 NOSIG=
FAOR 060900Z 32016KT CAVOK 27/11 Q1022 NOSIG=
FAOR 060830Z 34016KT 310V010 CAVOK 25/10 Q1023 NOSIG=
FAOR 060800Z 35017KT CAVOK 25/11 Q1023 NOSIG=
FAOR 060730Z 34017KT CAVOK 24/11 Q1023 NOSIG=
FAOR 060700Z 34016KT CAVOK 24/11 Q1023 NOSIG=
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Nov 6, 2021
Classification
Accident
Airline
Ethiopian Airlines
Flight number
ET-809
Departure
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Destination
Johannesburg, South Africa
Aircraft Registration
ET-AYB
Aircraft Type
Airbus A350-900
ICAO Type Designator
A359
Airport ICAO Code
FAOR
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Ethiopian B789 at Manchester on Aug 12th 2021, engine fire indication
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-9, registration ET-AXL performing flight ET-728 from Brussels (Belgium) to Manchester,EN (UK), was descending…
Ethiopian B737 at Windhoek on May 3rd 2021, rejected takeoff due to engine failure
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration ET-ALM performing flight ET-834 from Windhoek (Namibia) to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), was…
Ethiopian B738 at Ndola on Apr 4th 2021, landed at airport under construction
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 freighter, registration ET-AYL performing freight flight ET-3891 from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Ndola (Zambia),…
Ethiopian B738 at Ndola on Apr 4th 2021, approached airport under construction and went around from 50 feet AGL
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration ET-AQP performing flight ET-871 from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Ndola (Zambia), was scheduled to…
Ethiopian B772 at Lagos on Nov 28th 2020, bird strike
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777-200 freighter, registration ET-AVT performing flight ET-3911 from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Lagos (Nigeria), was on…
Newest articles
Jazz DH8D at Prince George on May 6th 2022, hydraulic leak
A Jazz de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration C-GIJZ performing flight QK-8350 from Prince George,BC to Vancouver,BC (Canada) with 36 passengers and 4…
United B764 near Boston on May 21st 2022, engine overheat
A United Boeing 767-400, registration N68061 performing flight UA-120 from Newark,NJ (USA) to Barcelona,SP (Spain) with 238 people on board, was…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner

A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.

ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
Get updates
Never miss an article from AeroInside. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and join 5148 existing subscribers.
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways